Medicationprescribedbyadoctor,Dentist,Nurseorpharmacist

5.medication

EYFS:3.19,3.45,3.46

AtTiddlywinks Day Nurserywepromotethegoodhealthofchildren attending nursery andtakenecessarystepsto preventthespreadofinfection(seesicknessandillness policy).Ifachildrequiresmedicinewewillobtaininformationaboutthechild’sneeds forthis,andwillensurethisinformationis keptupto date.

Wefollowstrictguidelineswhendealingwithmedication ofanykindinthenursery andthesearesetoutbelow.

Medicationprescribedbyadoctor,dentist,nurseorpharmacist

(Medicinescontainingaspirinwillonlybegivenif prescribedbyadoctor)

•Prescriptionmedicinewillonlybegiventothepersonnamedonthebottle for thedosagestated

•Medicinesmustbein theiroriginalcontainers

•Those with parentalresponsibility for anychild requiringprescription medicationshouldhandoverthemedicationtothemostappropriate member ofstaffwhowillthennotethedetailsoftheadministration ontheappropriate formandanothermemberofstaffwillcheckthesedetails

•Thosewithparentalresponsibilitymustgivepriorwrittenpermissionforthe administration ofeachandeverymedication.However,wewillacceptwritten permissiononceforawholecourseofmedicationorfortheongoinguseofa particularmedicationunderthefollowingcircumstances:

1. The written permission is only acceptable for that brand name of medicationandcannotbeusedforsimilartypesofmedication, e.g.ifthe courseof antibioticschanges,anewform willneedtobecompleted

2.Thedosageonthewrittenpermission istheonlydosagethatwillbe administered. Wewillnotgiveadifferentdoseunlessanewformis completed

3. ParentsmustnotifyusIMMEDIATELYifthechild’scircumstanceschange, e.g.adosehasbeengivenathome,orachangeinstrength/doseneeds to be given.

•Thenurserywillnotadministeradosagethatexceedstherecommended doseontheinstructionsunlessaccompaniedbywritteninstructionsfroma relevanthealthprofessionalsuchasaletterfromadoctorordentist

•Theparentmustbeaskedwhenthechildhaslastbeengiventhemedication beforecomingtonursery;andthestaffmember mustrecordthisinformation onthemedication form.Similarlywhenthechildispickedup,theparentor guardian mustbegivenprecisedetails ofthetimesanddosagegiven throughouttheday.Theparent’ssignaturemustbe obtainedat bothtimes

•Atthetimeofadministeringthemedicine,aseniormemberofstaffwillaskthe childtotakethemedicine,or offeritinamanneracceptabletothechildat the prescribed timeandintheprescribed form.(Itisimportanttonotethatstaff workingwithchildrenarenotlegallyobligedto administermedication)

•Ifthechildrefusestotaketheappropriatemedicationthenanotewillbe madeontheform

•Wheremedicationis“essential” ormayhavesideeffects,discussionwiththe parentwilltakeplaceto establishtheappropriateresponse.

Non-prescription medication (these will not usually be administered)

The Nursery DOES NOT administer and medication unless prior written consent is given for each and every medicine.Any non-prescription medication containing aspirin will not be administered.The Nursery will only administer non-prescription medication in the following circumstances (provided that written consent has been given)

• If a child has a high temperature/ fever above 37.5˚C and the parent is a significant distance away from the nursery that their journey will delay collection of their child.
• If a child has a high temperature/ fever above 37.5˚C and has a known history of febrile convulsions, in such cases the parent will be called to collect the child

• If the nursery feels the child would benefit from medical attention rather than non-prescription medication, we reserve the right to refuse nursery care until the child is seen by a medical practitioner
• If a child needs liquid paracetamol or similar medication during their time at nursery, such medication will be treated as prescription medication with the nursery providing one specific type of medication should parents wish to use this
• If a child does exhibit the symptoms for which consent has been given to give non-prescription medication during the day the nursery will make every attempt to contact the child’s parents. Where parents cannot be contacted then the nursery manager will take the decision as to whether the child is safe to have this medication based on the time the child has been in the nursery, the circumstances surrounding the need for this medication and the medical history of the child on their registration form. The child will be closely monitored until the parents collect the child
• As with any kind of medication, staff will ensure that the parent is informed of any non-prescription medicines given to the child whilst at the nursery, together with the times and dosage given

The Nursery has a duty to promote the good health of children attending the setting. We therefore ask that a child with a high temperature is cared for at home as most fevers are caused by an infection or another illness, which could be transmitted to another child. Children will frequently pick up a common cold and we do not expect children exhibiting these symptoms to be kept away from nursery. However if their symptoms are severe enough to warrant the administering of a liquid paracetamol such as Calpol they are best cared for in a home environment.

All medications on site will be stored securely and we ask that parents do not leave any medication in a bag which is to be left on their child’s peg/ in their box. If a child requires an inhaler or EpiPen we ask that this is left at the Nursery.

Injections,pessaries,suppositories

Astheadministration ofinjections,pessariesandsuppositoriesrepresentsintrusive nursing,wewillnotadminister thesewithoutappropriate medical trainingforevery memberofstaffcaring forthischild.Thistrainingisspecificforeverychildandnot generic. Thenurserywilldoallitcantomakeanyreasonableadjustmentsincluding working with parentsand other professionalsto arrange for appropriatehealth officialstotrainstaffinadministeringthemedication.

Staffmedication

Allnurserystaffhavearesponsibilitytoworkwithchildrenonlywheretheyarefitto doso.Staffmustnotworkwithchildrenwheretheyareinfectious ortoounwellto meetchildren’sneeds.Thisincludescircumstances whereanymedicationtaken affectstheirabilityto careforchildren,forexample,whereit makesa persondrowsy. Ifanystaffmember believesthattheircondition,including anyconditioncausedby takingmedication, isaffecting theirabilitytheymustinformtheirlinemanagerand seekmedicaladvice.Thenurserymanagerwilldecideifastaffmemberisfittowork,includingcircumstances where other staffmembersnotice changesinbehavioursuggestingapersonmaybeunder theinfluenceofmedication.Thisdecisionwillincludeanymedicaladviceobtained bytheindividualorfromanoccupationalhealthassessment.

Wherestaffmayoccasionallyorregularlyneedmedication,anysuchmedication mustbekeptintheperson’slocker/separate lockedcontainerinthestaffroomor nurseryroomwherestaffmayneedeasyaccesstothemedication suchasan asthmainhaler. Inallcasesitmust bestoredoutofreach ofthechildren.Itmustnot bekeptinthefirstaidboxandshouldbelabelledwiththenameofthemember of staff.

Storage

Allmedication forchildrenmusthavethechild’snameclearlywrittenontheoriginal containerand keptin aclosedbox,whichisoutof reachofallchildren.

Emergency medication,suchasinhalersandEpiPens,willbewithineasyreachof staffincaseofanimmediateneed,butwillremainoutofchildren’sreach.

Any antibiotics requiring refrigeration must be kept in a fridge inaccessible to children.

Allmedications mustbeintheiroriginalcontainers,labelsmustbelegibleandnot tamperedwithortheywillnotbegiven.Allprescriptionmedicationsshouldhavethe pharmacist’sdetailsandnotesattachedtoshowthedosageneededandthedate theprescription wasissued.Thiswillallbechecked,alongwithexpirydates,before staffagreetoadministermedication.